Clare man threatened to kill his neighbour

A jury last night found a 67-year-old Co Clare man guilty of threatening to kill his neighbour.

At Ennis Circuit Court, there were emotional scenes as the jury in a majority verdict found Martin McLaughlin, of Ballymaconna, Barefield, guilty of threatening to kill Raymond Crowley in March 2010.

The jury earlier unanimously found the retired Department of Agriculture officer guilty of harassing his neighbours, Raymond and Patrizia Crowley from October 1, 2006 to March 31, 2012.

The jury found McLaughlin’s wife Ann not guilty of harassing the Crowleys over the period.

Moments after Mrs McLaughlin was acquitted, she wept openly and held onto her husband in the dock after he was found guilty of harassment.

Later, as the guilty verdict of threatening to kill Mr Crowley on March 2010 was read out, McLaughlin looked at the jury members and shook his head.

Two of McLaughlin’s daughters wept as the guilty verdict on the threat to kill charge was called out.

At the back of the court, Mr Crowley wept and embraced his wife. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a separate threat of kill charge against McLaughlin in September 2011.

In the case, Mr Crowley told the court that in March 2010, McLaughlin told him “I will get my lads to beat the shit out of you and bury you in that fucking wall.” Mr Crowley said he asked McLaughlin was he threatening his life and McLaughlin replied: “Yes I fucking am.”

Yesterday, Judge Gerald Keyes remanded McLaughlin on bail to January 12.

He told the court: “My sentencing will be hugely influenced if between now and then these matters can be resolved between the families in some way. If one wants to say there is now peace… I will be influenced to a very large degree if people can resolve their differences that has led to this prosecution.”

During the trial, Patrizia Crowley said she felt like a prisoner in her own home and was “constantly terrified”.

She said: “We moved out to the country for peace and quiet, but we never go it.”

She said that on the way back from the school run accompanied by her then 18-month-old son on September 13, 2011, she pulled in to let McLaughlin pass. She said she saw him put his fist at her.

Asked what effect this had on her. Mrs Crowley said: “I had an awful pain in my chest, I could barely breathe. I had witnessed any behaviour like this before I moved to Barefield.”